Jim Harbaugh, 49ers get high grades at midpoint

— Midway through Jim Harbaugh’s first season as head coach, the 49ers have the NFL’s second-best record, own a five-game lead in the NFC West and already have surpassed their win total from last season.

The Niners (7-1) have been so good – and received significant contributions from so many players – that it makes selecting midseason award winners more challenging than in past seasons.

After careful deliberation, the winners are …

RB Frank Gore: Before the season, Gore, grimacing at the memory, recalled games during his first six years in which defensive players barked out the 49ers’ offensive play before the snap. Looking to the future, Gore eagerly anticipated more running room, thanks to a less predictable offense. Eight regular-season games later, Gore ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing, has ripped off a franchise-record five straight 100-yard games and is on pace for 1,564 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s also on pace for a career-high 318 carries, meaning defenses still know Gore is coming. This season, though, they don’t where, exactly, he’s going.

ILB Patrick Willis: It’s a testament to the strength of the 49ers’ defense that persuasive arguments could be made here for someone other than Willis, who, you might have heard, is really good. NaVorro Bowman or Justin Smith? Both worthy candidates. But the edge here goes to Willis, who ranks 11th in the NFL in tackles while assuming more responsibilities in pass coverage. Willis’ all-around brilliance was best displayed Sunday when he had a game-high 13 tackles and forced two fumbles in pass coverage against the Redskins.

MOST IMPROVED

QB Alex Smith: Smith’s improvement quietly began last season, pre-Harbaugh, when he threw eight touchdowns and one interception in his final five starts. Still, his eight-game opening to 2011 is clearly the best stretch of his stormy seven-year career. Smith ranks among the NFL’s top 10 in five categories, including interception percentage (1st), completion percentage (5th) and passer rating (6th). His shrinking number of critics argue he’s more game manager than game changer. But think about how the Niners’ fortunes could change if Smith sustains a season-ending injury.

Honorable mention: NG/DT Ricky Jean Francois. He has played well in two fill-in starts after looking overwhelmed in limited action last season.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

ILB NaVorro Bowman: Last week, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was asked if the performances of Bowman and Willis were comparable this season. Who could have imagined such a question in August? Fangio didn’t really answer, but others have weighed in and given the nod to Bowman, whose 76 tackles tie him for second in the NFL and include a jaw-dropping, open-field takedown of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King took Bowman – not Willis – on his midseason All-Pro team.

Honorable mention: CB Chris Culliver. The rookie third-round pick appeared as if he might be a project. Instead, he delivered as the No. 3 cornerback in Week 4.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

RG Chilo Rachal: After he shed about 30 pounds thanks to a strict offseason training program, Rachal’s training-camp performance earned him unsolicited praise from Harbaugh. All signs pointed to a breakout season. Instead, the 39th overall pick in the 2008 draft lost his starting spot after a disastrous first-half performance against the Bengals in Week 3 and, barring injury, appears destined to remain largely a spectator.

Honorable mention: CB Shawntae Spencer. Hamstring and toe injuries have made the eight-year veteran an afterthought after he started every game each of the past two seasons.

BEST OFFSEASON ACQUISTION

CB Carlos Rogers: Considered a top-level cover corner with the Redskins, Rogers apparently left his hands of stone in Washington. His career-high three interceptions lead the team and his first, in Week 3 against Cincinnati, helped seal a 13-8 win.

Honorable mention: K David Akers. He has hit all four FG attempts over 50 yards, made 19 of 21 attempts overall and, with 78 points, is on pace to break Jerry Rice’s franchise record for points in a season (138).

BIGGEST PLAY

Justin Smith’s strip of Philadelphia’s Jeremy Maclin secured an improbable 24-23 victory at Philadelphia, a win that offered the first hard evidence the 49ers might be much better than expected. Smith’s hustling game-saver also neatly captured the Niners’ resilience in erasing a 20-point deficit.